Sr. Laboratory Technician, McDonald Observatory

Job Posting Title:

Sr. Laboratory Technician, McDonald Observatory

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Hiring Department:

McDonald Observatory

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

The McDonald Observatory is a major astronomical research observatory located 16 miles from Fort Davis, Texas (440 miles away from the UT Austin campus). This position is located on the UT Austin campus and will require occasional travel to the observatory.

This position plays an important role in the development and forefront of scientific instrumentation for astronomy at the McDonald Observatory and other facilities around the world. The position works with the McDonald Observatory instrumentation group in the management of the laboratory space where instruments are assembled and tested, along with a wide range of tasks in electronics, optics, and mechanics, and in vacuum and cryogenics systems. Periods of time will be spent at the McDonald Observatory in west Texas during the delivery phase for new instruments. There will also be the opportunity to work with students in the lab setting.

The University of Texas at Austin provides an outstanding benefits package to staff, including: 

• Competitive health benefits (Employee premiums covered at 100%; family premiums at 50%) 

• Vision, dental, life, and disability insurance options 

• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays 

• Teachers Retirement System of Texas (a defined benefit retirement plan) 

• Additional voluntary retirement programs: tax-sheltered annuity 403(b) and a deferred compensation program 457(b) 

• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses 

For more details, please see: https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards.

Purpose

To perform and report results of engineering and/or scientific assignments related to astronomical instrumentation. To manage lab infrastructure in support of the instrumental goals of the Observatory. To organize undergraduate student effort in the lab environment and in the field.

Responsibilities

• Performs requirements analysis, engineering, design, fabrication, assembly, test, deployment, commissioning, and field support for astronomical instrumentation projects. Characterizes the performance of instrumentation in the lab setting. Acquires data in support of characterization.

• Designs, builds, modifies, and troubleshoots new and existing mechanical, electronic, optical, cryogenic, and vacuum equipment and instrumentation, used as part of the lab infrastructure. Maintains and expands understanding and knowledge of these systems.

• Helps to organize and conduct specific phases of research projects as designated by the principal investigators. Provides management of these activities.

• Assists with project management of major instrumentation projects to ensure the timely completion of various phases. Coordinates lab activities between different instrumentation projects. Performs other duties as required.

• Manages the labs and associated chemicals and equipment needed to fulfill the research objectives, university reporting requirements, and safety protocols. Supervises and trains lab personnel, including undergraduate research assistants, assigns daily tasks, mentors the students, and ensures they maintain compliance with university reporting and safety requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a field related to the work to be performed and at least four (4) years of related experience. Master's Degree in a field related to the work to be performed and at least two (2) years of related experience.

• Experience with engineering and/or scientific equipment ordinarily used in working in a lab setting on electronics, optics, and mechanical assemblies used in research.

• Experience with lab equipment used in astronomical instrumentation, including vacuum and cryogenic systems.

• Experience with custom electronics design, fabrication, and troubleshooting.

• Experience and knowledge of engineering and scientific methods in astronomical research, and design, assembly, and experimental testing of astronomical instrumentation.

• Experience using or d